SHAVING THE TRAIN.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 23, 2 September 1882, Page 2

SHAVING THE TRAIN.

A custom called "Shaving tht Train," m-JBnghmd; — has- -grathtaMy grown --tip among tlie travelling j-piiblic in ?se\v Zealand. This most, objectionable practice consists in passengers who intend proceeding by rail, waiting jinjtil the last mome^ i after the .stationmasler has given th' 6' signal to Start the train, and then -making frantic rushes to get into the carriages. And, as travellers have :of ten a doubt. as to the class of carnage they have booked for, a -warerjnig ■ Bioinenfc is >sj)en,t;in dis. covering the proper_o.ne; then a dart is made for the, iron stan hpnspt the end ■ f the carriage; and the passenger (Swings himself on thejcarriage platform. Pleased with himself, he looks 'triumphantly 'but idiotically round, and discovers tliat he is preventing others from being equally successful- in finding standing room. If it is man or womau ; tlie possessor of this position of vantagelooks contemptuously on any- person ,wji.o is, desirous .of. getting past them, in order that they may enter the carnage and. sit down in their proper places! Possibly the fact of this custom being contrary to regulations and against all rules' of politeness makes it peculiarly charming to- the minds of the 'Arrys, who are the principal offenders. The only wonder is that there are so few accidents arising from this conduqt, and we are certain there are hundreds of mia-

haps prevehtedtiy the vigilance of ihe railway guards and porters, to whom every praise is due for their can-. Wj - think, however, that the regulations a b'<-ut preventing persons entering a trai i wlk-u . in motion should be more vigorously Enforced. §onie day a horrible and g!r s iy accident will occur, and the lenieuu/ -if tjie railway officers will -be very property , blamed, and punishnient awarded of a | severe nature for laxTty in the performance of clearly defined duties.